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MARIA
CALLAS, THE DIVINE |
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MARIA
CALLAS, THE DIVINE |
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Maria
Anna Sophia Cecilia Kalogeropoulos, publicly known as Maria Callas was
born on December 2nd 1923, in Flower
hospital, 5th Ave.
Manhattan, New York. A girl of five kilos and a half who had a dark
complexion. Her
mother was dissatisfied, because she had expected to have a male and
refused to give her a name at the moment of being born. It was her father
the one who decided to call her Cecilia and then her mother insisted on
the name of Sophia. In the birth certificate her name was Sophia Cecilia.
Three years later, when she was baptized they added the name of Anna Maria.
The
same thing happened with the day of her birth, her mother in her book
“My Daughter, Maria Callas” states–“The day she was born, December
4th 1923, it snowed with an unknown fury” - as well as the
date of birth as the meteorological data were erroneous. Finally, the real
date of birth was clarified and it was: December 2nd
1923. Regarding
the birth time there was also confusion and there are several times
mentioned, and there is not a consensus on them. For example in the web
site of Lois Rodden´s the time is: 07:07 (7:07 AM) EST (+5:00).
Later
he states: “...Luis Ortet writes, October 2000, "According to the
French astrologer Andre Barbault, when Callas asked to have her horoscope
made at "Astroflash" in Paris, she stated that she had been born
at 6 AM, quoted from "Astralites des Femmes Ilustres," Editions
du Rocher, 1998, pp 316. After
a thorough research, we were able to obtain enough data to be able to
correct the natal chart. Finally, we agree with the time stated by the
very Maria. The rectification work showed the birth time to be 06:10:00 AM
EST + 5. Having
made the chart, we get an Ascendant in Scorpion at 28°03’.
This
Ascendant tells us how this woman along her life had to integrate Scorpion
as her Ascendant sign. She had many losses and painful crisis that were
the cause of internal, deep and categorical changes. It was also
outstanding her strong and decisive character as well as her perseverance
and will regarding her profession. Mars as a co-ruler of her Asc.
conjoined to Saturn in Libra reflects a hard and constant work, looking
for perfection. Pluto
is the ruler of her Asc. and it is in the 8th house and in the sign of
Cancer. This location confirms the Scorpion type crisis that Maria Callas
had to go through, which we
will see in detail. This becomes more important since Pluto is located in
its domal house. It also has another interpretation that is important when
referring about her death since it refers
to her death that would take place at home. In fact this happened
this way, she suddenly died in her apartment, Pluto trine Uranus. In
this chart, Scorpion and Sagittarius are combined, occupying the 1st
house, with the presence of Jupiter, the Sun and Mercury. The existing
strength is evident, but it
is still always reminding the importance of the first house, house of
Aries, as the beginning of a life project. The
interpretations with which she was more identified had a high Scorpion
content. These were, among many others, the more characteristic of the
singer. Therefore,
in the book Greek Fire it is stated that in the Opera Medea, Maria Callas
from her first performance on the stage and wrapped with a cloak that only
allowed her eyes to be seen, which were deeply lined in black and full
with hate, Scorpion colors
and forms come out from them. In the last scene, in which the temple
collapses, she is visible in a carriage surrounded by snakes and the dead
bodies of the children at her feet. Maria
Callas interpreted Medea powerfully with an overwhelming strength “Medea
furiously walks on the stage like a fierce panther because of the betrayal
of Jason and the only
punishment possible was infanticide.” Intensity
,passion, jealousy, death are shown in this role, and this is what Maria
Callas also went through during her life. he
same thing happened in the interpretation of Tosca, her jealousy, passion
and her loyalty to her dear Mario lead her to death. Another
interpretation was Norma, in which due to betrayal and unfaithfulness, jealousy plays an important role and it takes to Norma and
Pollione to death. These roles are
adjusted to an Asc in Scorpion. We
can highlight that, according to Ptolomeo, The Asc is in conjunction with
a benefic star, Bungula as
well as two beneficent planets like Venus and Jupiter. This star gives:
Refinement, charity, friends and a position of honor. The
Mid Heaven in 12º 24´ of Virgo reflects the handmade work that she had
to do with her voice, although it was always powerful, she had problems
with the highest notes and its sustained. In many occasions, when her
voice was flat it was really ugly, but it was due to an intense and
detailed work that she got a strong magnetism when singing. The
Moon located in the 10th House tells us about the popularity
that she had and that in spite of the many years that went by since her
death, it continues to be very strong. The
presence of Jupiter, the Sun and Mercury in the first house, and this last
ruler of the Mid Heaven, is reflecting the importance of her profession in
her life. It offered her popularity, wealth but at the same time it
committed her until the last years of her life. Maria
only liked to be surrounded of admirers and journalists and when she
worked, at that moment she was Callas (The presence of Jupiter, Sun and
Mercury in the first house. Off the stage she was an insecure and humble
woman and to interpret the role of CALLAS
represented an oppression for her (Mars ruler of the Asc. in
conjunction to Saturn and Moon square to Mercury). She had two faces, two
people cohabited in a single body: Maria and Callas. The presence of Jupiter in Sagittarius and in conjunction to the ascendant crystallizes when she said:... “I consider myself a privileged person to have had an unusual destiny. I am daughter of the destiny, I was caught because it wanted me this way ”...
Her
biography through the natal chart. She discovers her voice: When
Maria was five years old, her mother, who loved opera, heard her singing
next to the radio and she realized that Maria possessed an extraordinary
voice. Her mother enrolled the girl take part in radio competitions, under
false names. She also participated in musical performances at school. In
1937 Maria obtained her school degree when she was 13 years old. On
20th February, together Maria
and her mother set off on board the Saturnia to Greece, with the objective
to start a musical career for Maria. In this voyage, the captain of the
vapor, when he found out the kindness of the girl’s voice, he requested
her to perform in a party for the officials and the first class passengers.
Maria was transformed as she interpreted a version of “La Habanera” of
the opera Carmen. Her performance was a magic sample. Maria’s gift to
interpret a character would
cause in the future a change in the opera, which had been unknown until
then. In
her natal chart the promise of the exodus is clearly observed, her home
would be always abroad and very far from her birthplace. The ruler of 4th
house, Jupiter, located in the 1st house and in its regency sign,
Sagittarius, is the main exodus signal, since the planet and the sign (mutable)
represent the foreigner. We also observe the ruler of 9th house
that represents the foreigner, the Sun, in Sagittarius and in the first
house, and the Moon natural home signal in mutable sign in the 10th
house. This natal chart tells us of a constant movement around the world.
Not in vain some biographers say that she was born accidentally in New
York. the Divine is a citizen of the world. Her
first exodus was on that ship of name as saturnine as Saturnio. In the
Solar R of that year, we see that Mars is located on the apex of the 9th
house. Mars rules the 10th house and it has affinity with the
Asc. located in the sign of Capricorn, which is an exaltation sign. Mars
is in Mutual Reception with Venus, ruler of the 9th house and
this planet is in conjunction with the Asc. Pluto which trines her natal
Asc., from the natural sign of home, a total change, the relationship
between her parents was very bad and they never recovered it.
The
Mutual Reception Venus / Mars activates the axis Houses III / IX, that
same year she begins to study in the National Conservatory. This was
possible due to an alteration in
her age (solar Mercury Square solar Neptune. The lie). Being only thirteen
years old Maria could not be admitted, it was then when her mother said
that the girl was sixteen years old. Nobody questioned this due to her
height and volume. Maria
Callas made her first performance on stage in April 1939, when she was
fifteen years and four months old. She interpreted in the opera
“Caballeria Rusticana” of Mascagni the role of Santuzza and she won
the first prize of the opera of the academy. During that time the Moon
progressed at 24º of Aries, in presence of the 5th house, formed a trine
with the Sun progressed at 24º of Sagittarius. The
Moon of this solar R is in trine with natal Jupiter and solar Pluto ,
forming a great trine Moon / solar Pluto with natal Jupiter. The solar
Moon is in the 5th house and in Aries in orb with her Sun. The
solar Mid Heaven 6º 47´ of Leo is her natal 9th house. Her
first prize and success abroad. In
December 1939 she obtained a place in the prestigious Conservatory of
Athens, after an audition with the Spanish soprano Elvira Hidalgo who
became her teacher, mentor and mother. When
the Conservatory refused to grant her a scholarship, Hidalgo decided to
give her free private classes, and a period of education started then,
which began at ten in the morning and finished at eight at night. She
studied a score after another. In her life there only were music and
hard and disciplined work. Mars in conjunction to natal Saturn. In 1940, Greece was in war, that year, on October 28th, Mussolini urged the country to allow the entering of the Italian Army. The Italian troops were forced to go back to Albany. This victory continued to be celebrated when four months later Maria Callas performed for the first time in the National Lyrical Theater of Greece, interpreting the small role of Beatriz of the operetta of Boccaccio. For the first time in her life she enjoyed the affection and the applauses of the audi The
solar Asc. trines her natal Moon, Mid Heaven sextil her natal Jupiter, the
solar Moon trines Jupiter and solar Saturn, with this last one in mutual
R. Her first performance takes place in a restricted society (Saturn) due
to the War’s winds, solar Mars in Scorpion (war) sextil to the solar
Moon. Maria
Callas’s success boosted so much that caused the envy of her colleagues.
This situation was very repetitive along her life. When
she was 18 years old, August 27th of 1942, at the Athens Opera, she sang
Tosca in Greek and one month later she did in Italian. It was the opera that
boosted her to fame, so she triumphed in Greece this way. The
solar of the year speaks by itself, the solar Moon in the 10th
house and in its exaltation sign, solar Mercury in conjunction to her
natal Asc., we must
remember that this planet is the ruler of her natal Mid Heaven. A
solar Asc. in Leo, sign of the art expression, receiving a trine from
solar Mars in Aries giving easiness to her creative force. The
Sun located practically on the apex of the 5th house and entering in it is
an indication of Maria’s success during that year. Progressed
Saturn entered in Scorpion on August 20th 1941 and this was the background
of wartime, death and
privations. The approach contact in sextil with natal Venus gave her the
possibility, as Saturn does, to crystallize what has been done well. The
sextil, benefic aspect, facilitated her to think with certain order
regarding the beginning of
her career. As in those years Maria was being born as singer. In
spite of the war and of all the inconveniences to survive due to the war,
the popularity and the public's affection for the young singer didn't
decay in the following years.
On
November 16th 1944 progressed Saturn closes the sextil to her
natal Venus. One period was about to conclude, progressed Saturn had given
form and structured her life, which would be useful in the near future.
She already had the base, although without lacking the hardness and demand
of Saturn. But she also had the security that she could face the world. On
January 13th 1945 with
the intervention of Churchill the direction of the war changed, and the
defeat of the communists took place. A temporary cessation of hostilities
was negotiated and peace was established in Athens. By that time, the Opera of
Athens, which was under the control of the left, they decided not to renew
the contract of the most famous soprano in Greece, alleging that she had
had a very active role in the last months of the occupation. In fact the
true reasons were the envy and the fear of her talent. Callas
set off on the Stockholm vapor
to America, with only a hundred dollars , which her father had sent
her from USA. That
day the transit of Saturn was
in opposition to her natal Moon and Mars in a sextil transit also to her
natal Moon, both planets which are in conjunction in her natal chart.
The
solar revolution of that year shows us the solar Moon at 28º Gemini trine
to her natal conjunction Mars–Saturn in Libra. Her natal Moon trines the
solar Mid Heaven and mainly solar Jupiter in conjunction to natal Moon.
Maria’s radix, as we said before, shows
a constant home exodus, the issues previously mentioned activate that
disposition of her natal chart, when being involved the natal conjunction
Mars–Saturn and when not being the solar planets in good cosmic state.
This exodus, home change, is carried out due to hostile situations
and post war impediments. The
progressed chart shows that the progressed Moon had transited a few months
before on her natal Pluto and took place a sextil to her natal Mid Heaven.
Progressed Venus entered in square orb to her natal conjunction Mars–Saturn.
In
the Solar Rev. as in the progression, the role of the Moon is important
since in her chart the angular Moon in the 10th house means her
profession and also her mother. She
was the one that made the singer become who she was, but not in fact for
the natural desire of a mother but for the obligation that she imposed on
her daughter to be the one that should sustain her family economically. In
the Book Greek Fire by Nicholas Gage, Plaza-Janes Press, from where most
of the information was extracted, there are certain testimonies
(although not confirmed) which declare that Callas’s mother had
forced her daughter to prostitute during the war, as she had forced her (
this is confirmed), to sing in private for the soldiers at home. Her
voice problem was also somehow originated by her mother, because when Maria
was still a girl she made her sing very high notes. Due to raising her
voice so much her diaphragm got ruined to such an extent that she could
not keep the breath. She had deteriorated the muscle. Due to this, she had
problems with high notes. As it can be appreciated, a Moon in Virgo
squared to her dispositor shows a mother that neither veiled much for her
daughter's well being nor
understood her nor she wanted to do it. Being very critical and cool,
Maria’s mother marked the diva forever. On
her way to Fame and Myth In
1947 the USA were going through a difficult economic situation and as
Maria did not have a job as a singer, she borrowed money and travelled to
Verona, Italy. There she was able to perform in four shows which pay was
only 240,00 dollars. But her life would have a radical change, in that
city she met Giovanni Battista Meneghini, he was
manager and also mentor and of new singers. When
he met Maria Callas he convinced her to stay in Italy, after being
rejected by the Scala, he took care of her needs and offered her the music
teachers she needed. Later on she would marry Meneghini who was thirty
years older than her.
When
observing her natal chart we can see the analogy this woman had to live
regarding marriage. First of all, the ruler of the 7th
House is in the sign of Capricorn, sextil to its dispositor Saturn
in conjunction with Mars. Not only Venus Saturn is connected by a sextil
but also they are connected in Mutual Reception. This analysis brings
about the presence of an older husband and with whom there will be an
understanding and a
communication characteristic of the sextil, as an agreement between both
concerning money or values and the disciplined work. Meneghini demanded
his wife a disciplined and austere life . They didn't have practically any
social life and the biggest expenses derived from tours, clothes and
representation expenses. Everything moved around work and earnings. In
the solar chart of 1946, transcendent solar, year on which the singer's
life makes an important turn, we may observe the Moon in conjunction to
the 9th house,
which promises a long trip due to her job (natal Moon). The solar Asc. is
compromised in the natal 10th house, it already tells us about the
development in that year related to travelling abroad and foreigners . The
7th solar house is Capricorn and its ruler, Saturn, is located
in the 1st House,
interpretation of the approach of the other one could be stated, in this
case the approach her future husband, giving birth to a new way of life. When
ascending the cancer sign reference to the family is made, in the same way
that the Mid Heaven/ IV, tells us about a new relationship (Aries-Libra)
that she would have to live according to her destiny, at the same time
solar Saturn trines the Sun. Solar Mercury sextil to the natal Moon and
solar Mars in conjunction to natal Mercury. Again, profession signs appear
and maintain important dynamics. The conjunction Mars-Saturn discharges in
square at the solar Asc., showing once more the difficulties and tension
that she would have to live
during the year. It
is important to notice that the 5th solar house corresponds to
her natal 1st house, the
beginning of a new creative stage. Mercury, Sun, Node and Mars, all of
them in the 5th house, although they are related to the
self-expression of an artist, they are also the creation of a new woman
but more self-confident, protected by a man that practically fulfils a
fatherly role, who will help her to become the very well named Divine. On
April 21st 1949. Maria
Callas married Giovanni Battista Meneghini. It is interesting to see the progressions of that moment since the progressed Ascendant is her natal Mercury and the progressed Moon is in sextil, already with little orb to close it with natal Sat
Let’s see the astrocartographic analysis of her natal chat, but first the European map.
The
most intimate approach that finished in marriage among Maria Callas and
Meneghini was in Venice. Let us see the astrocartographic progressed map. Enlarged
Italy astrocartographic progressed map
At
the beginning things were not going well with Meneghini, but Maria Callas
could show that her voice and her register were incomparable. This allowed
her to resuscitate operas that had not been performed for several decades
due to the lack of appropriate interpreters. Meneghini was devoted to
manage her career full time. In
1953 the Goddess's sudden weight loss, when she was 30, was an extremely
important fact. After many treatments and consultations with plastic
surgeons that could not help her at all, Maria lost 30 Kg. reaching a
weight of 53 kilos with a height of 1, 75 meters. She had become another
woman. The
information that the book Greek Fire generously offers, states that this
weight loss took place between December 1952 and the beginning of 1954. It
is interesting to look at her progressions and transits by that time. This
change in her body didn't have an ordinary result as it could have had in
any other woman, but due to this, Maria Callas was turned from a fat heavy
and not very attractive soprano into
a model. Her height and her thin body gave her a distinguished and
ethereal air. Now
she had all the resources to interpret those weak and delicate women of
“La Traviata”, “La Sonambula” , “Madame Butterfly”, and to
transform “Norma” into a goddess. And now more than ever, she would
include deep dramatic touches in her interpretations. Transits
by the time of her physical changes already showed differences:
Saturn
in conjunct transit to natal Saturn and natal Mars in October l953. (we
must highlight that Mars is the co-ruler of her asc.), having Mars a
restricting function. Progressed
Moon in conjunction with Natal Saturn. The Moon as well as Saturn are the
rulers of the axis 2/8 -axis of assimilation and elimination (Taurus-Scorpion
of the zodiac in rest) Callas swallowed the solitary worm to eliminate it
later on. And this happened this way. Mars
in transit is the one that makes the
conjunction Natal Mars-Saturn in December 1953. Progressed
Moon is in conjunction with progressed Saturn on December 1953. Transiting
Neptune, already in orb, reaches the famous conjunction Mars –Saturn.
Neptune brings the watery ingredient regarding her body, as well as the
confusion of the cause. Much was said about this issue. Maria admitted the
truth only to a close friend. Excerpt from the book afore mentioned: “Many
things have been said in this respect, but it is true that I swallowed a
solitary worm. I did it voluntarily and this was the way I lost thirty
kilos” As we may observe,
Mars and Saturn
were an important part in this woman's life and what her profession
was derived in. The
influential journalist Elsa Maxwell (specialized in jet set gossips),
organized a dance in Venice to honour Maria Callas. It
was in that opportunity on September 3rd
1957, that Elsa Maxwell, introduced Aristotle Socrates Onassis to
Maria Callas. The two most famous Greek of the world had met . Onassis
fifty-three and Callas thirty-three years old. This was only their first
meeting as romance began years later. Maria’s
life changed since this encounter. She
lived in New York During the solar revolution that corresponds to this
period. The
solar Asc. is the same one as that the natal asc. (it differs in minutes).
The repetition of its axes in this solar cycle is making us reference to a
new cycle in this woman's life that nothing has to do with what she had
previously lived. At
this time she was at the top of her professional and personal
life. Her friend and protector, (until that moment) Elsa Maxwell
links her with high society transforming her into a spoiled girl, this can
be observed in the solar by the presence of the Moon conjunction Asc and
the node, which is showing the obtained popularity. In
addition, a Moon in Scorpion speaks of manipulations and tricks that Maria
Callas used to be in contact with this influential journalist in certain
circles. That is to say an action that came from her. But
at the same time the presence of the North node at the solar Asc. speaks
from a destiny situation to be lived from which she won't be able to
escape. And it will be a relationship, since
the axis Asc. / VII. and of the order Taurus-Scorpion. A difficult
and passionate relationship, where power and money have an important role.
a relationship for which Maria Callas would have to leave many things and
to give up others definitely.
The
presence of Saturn in the 1st house and in Sagittarius
makes reference to the image of Onassis, an older man and a
foreigner. Saturn in conjunction to the sun and both in trine to Uranus
located in the 7th house, corroborates what was previously said.
We must always bear in mind the importance of Saturn in her natal chart in
contact with Venus. Once again the presence of an older man is repeated in
her life. The
great trine formed in this solar R, by Jupiter, Mars and both discharging
on the Moon, Node and solar and natal Asc., is making reference to a year
of popularity at work and personal as well as material rewards. The
day she met Onassis, progressed chart:
her progressed Moon in conjunction with her progressed Ascendant.
Progressed Jupiter approaching to the natal sun, although not exact yet,
but it is in orb. And retrograde Mercury at 28° of Capricorn, exact
square to natal Mars-Saturn and sextil to her natal ascendant. On
July 31st 1956 Mercury became retrograde in that degree. It is
very attractive since a time
before meeting Onassis,
Mercury changes its movement and becoming
so important since it is the ruler of her Mid Heaven and the
dispositor of the Moon. In the same way that the square carried out natal
Mars–Saturn which that also speak about her profession and her person. The
events that happened in the following years show the action of that
retrograde Mercury. It can be interpreted that life took her to that
moment and place, it stops then to go back her own steps and revise those
parts of her life that had been isolated. Maybe
the presence of Onassis was for Maria Callas a Saturn with all that its
presence implies, that made her most intimate fibers vibrate. (Onassis had
his Sun in Capricorn).
-“She opened a door to all the singers of the world and such door has never been closed again. There was excellent music behind but also excellent interpretation ideas. She offered us, those who followed her, the chance to do things that were almost impossible to achieve before ”- by Trans. by Florencia Bellinii - All Rights Reserved |
